Caring for your health if you have diabetes

Diabetes can cause damage to your kidneys, heart, feet and eyes. You can help to reduce this damage by continually monitoring your health with regular tests and checks.

Which test or check?

How often?

A blood pressure check.

At least every 3 months

A blood test called HbA1c, which measures how well your sugar levels were controlled over the past 10 to 12 weeks.

At least every 6 months

A foot check which tells if diabetes is causing damage to the nerves and blood supply of your feet.

At least twice a year

A test for protein in the urine that tells if diabetes is affecting your kidneys.

At least once a year (more often if any problems found)

A blood test to measure your cholesterol level.

At least once a year

An eye check to tell if diabetes is causing problems with your eyesight.

At least once every 2 years

You may need to have these tests more often depending on your diabetes, other medical conditions and medicines. You should discuss this with your doctor. If you have problems between tests, see your doctor straight away.

Medicines and your health

Medicines for diabetes can prevent or reduce problems by:

lowering your blood sugar

keeping your kidneys healthy

lowering your cholesterol

lowering your blood pressure

lowering your risk of heart disease, and

preventing damage to your eyes and feet.

Many people with diabetes need more than one medicine to reduce their risk of health problems.

Healthy choices

Lifestyle choices can help your health. Discuss with your doctor:

quitting smoking

eating a balanced and nutritious diet

maintaining a healthy body weight

limiting salt and alcohol intake

ensuring adequate fluid intake

taking part in regular physical activity

Speak to your doctor about how you can best care for your health if you have diabetes.

What should I do?

Check that you are taking all these steps to care for your health and get the best from your medicines.

Speak to your doctor about your diabetes and caring for your health.

PROVIDED BY: University of South Australia - Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre

IN ASSOCIATION WITH: Discipline of General Practice, The University of Adelaide | School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide | NPS MedicineWise | Australian Medicines Handbook | Drug and Therapeutics Information Service

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